Simply Beautiful: Alpina Adds Two Legacy Timepieces to its Heritage Collection

Aficionados love complicated watches– from complex chronographs to sophisticated calendar indications to uber rare tourbillons or minute repeaters– they are the bee’s knees in the realm of haute horlogerie. However, most of these highly sought-after mechanical masterpieces often have a price tag similar to a decent mid-range car and are not designed for everyday wear. Classic mechanical watches that indicate the time only make also a perfectly serious statement on your wrist, and often come with a decent price tag. Alpina is introducing two new models in its Heritage Collection that check these boxes. They are inspired by a vintage model from the time-honored Swiss brand and retail for $1,795.

The Heritage Automatic, a compact 38mm timepiece, faithfully restores the aesthetic of Alpina’s classic designs. It features dauphine-style blued hands, a railroad-minute track, a leather strap with a pin buckle, and a closed case back. The first version showcases a warm beige dial adorned with 12 Arabic numerals, while the second version offers a sophisticated combination of a satin-finish grey hour circle, with alternating bronze-colored hour markers and Arabic numerals with a beige center. The Alpina logo uses the original typeface, adding to the watch’s authenticity.

In another nod to modern durability, the fragile Plexiglas of the past has been replaced with non-reflective sapphire crystal that covers the slightly curved dials. Also in tune with days of yore is the water resistance of 30 meters.

As for the movement, the AL-520 caliber (base Sellita SW200) is the closest to the standard ones used at the time, according to Alpina, with a 38-hour power reserve and automatic winding that the models of yesteryear did not always have. As in the past, the number of rubies— a sign of prestige in those days— is proudly displayed at 6 o’clock: “26 jewels”.

The Alpina Heritage Automatic was unveiled during the Geneva Watch Days 2024 and will be available from October 2024.

To learn more, visit Alpina, here.